"I undertake, worthy lord," said he, "to bear away with this hand whomever thou shalt point out to me, and with this other defend myself against seven such Lygians, and bring the maiden to thy dwelling though all the Christians in Rome were pursuing me like Calabrian wolves.

If not, I will let myself be beaten with clubs in this impluvium." "Do not permit that, lord," cried Chilo.

"They will hurl stones at us, and what could his strength effect?
Is it not better to take the girl from the house,--not expose thyself or her to destruction ?" "This is true, Croton," said Vinicius.
"I receive thy money, I do thy will! But remember, lord, that to-morrow I go to Beneventum." "I have five hundred slaves in the city," answered Vinicius.
He gave them a sign to withdraw, went to the library himself, and sitting down wrote the following words to Petronius,-- "The Lygian has been found by Chilo.

I go this evening with him and Croton to Ostrianum, and shall carry her off from the house to-night or to-morrow.

May the gods pour down on thee everything favorable.